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Improve Your Defenses With Energy Resistance (Epic)

At heroic tier energy resistance is nice to have. At paragon tier it becomes a little bit more important. And at epic tier energy resistance is a must. If a party wants to have any chance at surviving multiple encounters between extended rests then they need to avoid damage, and energy resistance will help you there.

As we discussed in the previous installments of this series, the best way to avoid damage is to avoid being hit. But even if your strategy is to have an incredibly high AC or to just stick close to the defender and let him draw fire, you’re still going to take some damage during the course of most fights. At the epic tier the fights take longer, mainly because the monsters have so many more hit points. The easiest way to improve your defenses is to get items (yes items – plural) that provide energy resistance. At epic level most items that provide energy resistance do so against multiple energy forms. So choose your items carefully and maximize your defensive capabilities.

Don’t underestimate the value of cheaper items either. Just because an item is heroic tier or paragon tier doesn’t mean that it won’t help you at epic level. Be sure to reference the past installments of this series when putting together your magic item wish list for the DM or when you’ve got gp to burn.

Energy Resist Items (Epic Tier)

Item Magic Level Item Slot Energy Amount Source
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any acid 15 AV
Demonskin Tattoo   23 Wondrous Item acid 15 AV2
Dragonscale Armor, Black +5 23 Armor: scale acid 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +5 23 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
acid 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +5 24 Armor: Any acid 20 AV
Demon Amulet +5 24 Neck acid 10 AV2
Demonscale +5 24 Armor: Scale acid 15 AV2
Keicha’s Amulet +5 24 Neck acid 15 AV2
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion acid 15 AV
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +5 25 Neck acid 10 AV
Dawn Warrior Armor +5 25 Armor: Any acid 10 E1DR
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang acid 30 DM378
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any acid 15 AV
Dragonscale Armor, Black +6 28 Armor: scale acid 20 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +6 28 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
acid 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +6 29 Armor: Any acid 20 AV
Demon Amulet +6 29 Neck acid 10 AV2
Demonscale +6 29 Armor: Scale acid 15 AV2
Keicha’s Amulet +6 29 Neck acid 15 AV2
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +6 30 Neck acid 10 AV
Dawn Warrior Armor +6 30 Armor: Any acid 10 E1DR
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any cold 15 AV
Rimewrought Armor +5 22 Armor: Scale, Plate cold 15 DM365
Demonskin Tattoo   23 Wondrous Item cold 15 AV2
Dragonscale Armor, White +5 23 Armor: scale cold 15 AV
Robe of Defying Frost +5 23 Armor: Cloth cold 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +5 23 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
cold 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +5 24 Armor: Any cold 20 AV
Cloak of Survival +5 24 Neck cold 10 PHB
Demon Amulet +5 24 Neck cold 10 AV2
Demonscale +5 24 Armor: Scale cold 15 AV2
Frostburn Armor +5 24 Armor: Plate cold 10 AV
Frostwolf Pelt +5 24 Neck cold 15 AV2
Frozen Armor +5 24 Armor: Scale, Plate cold 15 AV2
Inner Warmth Armor +5 24 Armor: Hide cold 10 PHB2
Keicha’s Amulet +5 24 Neck cold 15 AV2
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion cold 15 AV
Raven Cloak +5 24 Neck cold 10 DM381
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +5 25 Neck cold 10 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +5 25 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
cold 15 AV2
Dawn Warrior Armor +5 25 Armor: Any cold 10 E1DR
Defender’s Armor +5 25 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
cold 15 RotG
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang cold 30 DM378
Winterward Shield   26 Arms cold 15 AV2
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any cold 15 AV
Rimewrought Armor +6 27 Armor: Scale, Plate cold 20 DM365
Dragonscale Armor, White +6 28 Armor: scale cold 20 AV
Robe of Defying Frost +6 28 Armor: Cloth cold 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +6 28 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
cold 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +6 29 Armor: Any cold 20 AV
Cloak of Survival +6 29 Neck cold 15 PHB
Demon Amulet +6 29 Neck cold 10 AV2
Demonscale +6 29 Armor: Scale cold 15 AV2
Frostburn Armor +6 29 Armor: Plate cold 10 AV
Frostwolf Pelt +6 29 Neck cold 15 AV2
Frozen Armor +6 29 Armor: Scale, Plate cold 15 AV2
Inner Warmth Armor +6 29 Armor: Hide cold 15 PHB2
Keicha’s Amulet +6 29 Neck cold 15 AV2
Lifebane Weapon +6 29 Weapon: Heavy
Blade, Light Blade,
Pick, Spear
cold 15 DM376
Raven Cloak +6 29 Neck cold 15 DM381
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +6 30 Neck cold 10 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +6 30 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
cold 15 AV2
Dawn Warrior Armor +6 30 Armor: Any cold 10 E1DR
Defender’s Armor +6 30 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
cold 15 RotG
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any fire 15 AV
Piwafwi +5 22 Neck fire 10 DM367
Demonskin Tattoo   23 Wondrous Item fire 15 AV2
Robe of Defying Flames +5 23 Armor: Cloth fire 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +5 23 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
fire 10 DM365
Black Iron Armor +5 24 Armor: Scale, Plate fire 15 PHB
Chaos Weave Armor +5 24 Armor: Any fire 20 AV
Cloak of Survival +5 24 Neck fire 10 PHB
Demon Amulet +5 24 Neck fire 10 AV2
Demonscale +5 24 Armor: Scale fire 15 AV2
Flamedrinker Armor +5 24 Armor: Plate fire 15 PHB
Frostburn Armor +5 24 Armor: Plate fire 10 AV
Heartblood of Festergrim   24 Legendary Boon fire 15 DMG2
Keicha’s Amulet +5 24 Neck fire 15 AV2
Pelaurum Armor +5 24 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
fire 15 AV
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion fire 15 AV
Brimstone Cloak +5 25 Neck fire 15 MotP
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +5 25 Neck fire 10 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +5 25 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
fire 15 AV2
Dawn Warrior Armor +5 25 Armor: Any fire 10 E1DR
Defender’s Armor +5 25 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
fire 15 RotG
Dragonscale Armor, Red +5 25 Armor: scale fire 15 AV
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang fire 30 DM378
Staff of Draconic Power +5 25 Implement (Staff) fire 10 DM365
Flamedrinker Shield   26 Arms fire 15 AV
Flameward Shield   26 Arms fire 15 AV2
Forgemaster’s Gloves   26 Hands fire 15 DM380
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any fire 15 AV
Piwafwi +6 27 Neck fire 10 DM367
Ring of the Phoenix   27 Ring fire 15 AV
Robe of Defying Flames +6 28 Armor: Cloth fire 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +6 28 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
fire 10 DM365
Black Iron Armor +6 29 Armor: Scale, Plate fire 15 PHB
Chaos Weave Armor +6 29 Armor: Any fire 20 AV
Cloak of Survival +6 29 Neck fire 15 PHB
Demon Amulet +6 29 Neck fire 10 AV2
Demonscale +6 29 Armor: Scale fire 15 AV2
Flamedrinker Armor +6 29 Armor: Plate fire 15 PHB
Frostburn Armor +6 29 Armor: Plate fire 10 AV
Keicha’s Amulet +6 29 Neck fire 15 AV2
Pelaurum Armor +6 29 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
fire 15 AV
Brimstone Cloak +6 30 Neck fire 15 MotP
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +6 30 Neck fire 10 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +6 30 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
fire 15 AV2
Dawn Warrior Armor +6 30 Armor: Any fire 10 E1DR
Defender’s Armor +6 30 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
fire 15 RotG
Dragonscale Armor, Red +6 30 Armor: scale fire 20 AV
Staff of Draconic Power +6 30 Implement (Staff) fire 10 DM365
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any force 15 AV
Brooch of Shielding +5 23 Neck force 20 AV
Scintillating Armor +5 23 Armor: Cloth force 20 MotP
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any force 15 AV
Brooch of Shielding +6 28 Neck force 20 AV
Scintillating Armor +6 28 Armor: Cloth force 20 MotP
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any lightning 15 AV
Demonskin Tattoo   23 Wondrous Item lightning 15 AV2
Scintillating Armor +5 23 Armor: Cloth lightning 20 MotP
Symbol of the Dragon +5 23 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
lightning 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +5 24 Armor: Any lightning 20 AV
Demon Amulet +5 24 Neck lightning 10 AV2
Demonscale +5 24 Armor: Scale lightning 15 AV2
Dragonscale Armor, Blue +5 24 Armor: scale lightning 15 AV
Keicha’s Amulet +5 24 Neck lightning 15 AV2
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion lightning 15 AV
Robe of Defying Storms +5 24 Armor: Cloth lightning 15 AV
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +5 25 Neck lightning 10 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +5 25 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
lightning 15 AV2
Dawn Warrior Armor +5 25 Armor: Any lightning 10 E1DR
Shockweave Armor +5 25 Armor: Cloth, Leather lightning 15 AV2
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang lightning 30 DM378
Stormlord Armor +5 25 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
lightning 15 AV
Stormwalker’s Cloak +5 25 Neck lightning 15 PHB
Stormward Shield   26 Arms lightning 15 AV2
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any lightning 15 AV
Potion of Stormshield   28 Potion lightning 35 AV
Scintillating Armor +6 28 Armor: Cloth lightning 20 MotP
Storm Shield   28 Arms lightning 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +6 28 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
lightning 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +6 29 Armor: Any lightning 20 AV
Demon Amulet +6 29 Neck lightning 10 AV2
Demonscale +6 29 Armor: Scale lightning 15 AV2
Dragonscale Armor, Blue +6 29 Armor: scale lightning 20 AV
Keicha’s Amulet +6 29 Neck lightning 15 AV2
Robe of Defying Storms +6 29 Armor: Cloth lightning 15 AV
Cloak of Elemental Evolution +6 30 Neck lightning 10 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +6 30 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
lightning 15 AV2
Dawn Warrior Armor +6 30 Armor: Any lightning 10 E1DR
Shockweave Armor +6 30 Armor: Cloth, Leather lightning 15 AV2
Stormlord Armor +6 30 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
lightning 15 AV
Stormwalker’s Cloak +6 30 Neck lightning 15 PHB
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any necrotic 15 AV
Helm of Ghostly Defense   22 Head necrotic 10 PHB
Lifegiving Armor +5 23 Armor: Plate necrotic 15 AV
Tenebrous Shroud +5 23 Neck necrotic 20 DM380
Black Iron Armor +5 24 Armor: Scale, Plate necrotic 15 PHB
Bonegrim Armor +5 24 Armor: Plate necrotic 15 AV
Empyreal Breastplate +5 24 Armor: Plate necrotic 30 DM377
Ghostphase Armor +5 24 Armor: Cloth necrotic 10 PHB
Inner Warmth Armor +5 24 Armor: Hide necrotic 10 PHB2
Laughing Death Armor +5 24 Armor: Cloth,
Leather, Hide
necrotic 15 AV
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion necrotic 15 AV
Raven Cloak +5 24 Neck necrotic 10 DM381
Skeletal Armor +5 24 Armor: Chain,
Plate, Scale
necrotic 15 AV
Soulwarding Armor +5 24 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
necrotic 10 AV
Tombforged Armor +5 24 Armor: Chain necrotic 15 PHB
Crown of Nature’s Rebellion   25 Head necrotic 20 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +5 25 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
necrotic 15 AV2
Deathcut Armor +5 25 Armor: Leather, Hide necrotic 5 PHB
Deathspawn Potion   25 Potion necrotic 15 AV
Deathward Shield   25 Arms necrotic 15 AV2
Skull Mask   25 Head necrotic 15 AV
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang necrotic 30 DM378
Spiritlink Armor +5 25 Armor: Chain necrotic 10 AV
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any necrotic 15 AV
Potion of Lifeshield   27 Potion necrotic 35 AV
Lifegiving Armor +6 28 Armor: Plate necrotic 15 AV
Tenebrous Shroud +6 28 Neck necrotic 20 DM380
Black Iron Armor +6 29 Armor: Scale, Plate necrotic 15 PHB
Bonegrim Armor +6 29 Armor: Plate necrotic 10 AV
Empyreal Breastplate +6 29 Armor: Plate necrotic 30 DM377
Ghostphase Armor +6 29 Armor: Cloth necrotic 15 PHB
Inner Warmth Armor +6 29 Armor: Hide necrotic 15 PHB2
Laughing Death Armor +6 29 Armor: Cloth,
Leather, Hide
necrotic 15 AV
Raven Cloak +6 29 Neck necrotic 15 DM381
Skeletal Armor +6 29 Armor: Chain,
Plate, Scale
necrotic 15 AV
Soulwarding Armor +6 29 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
necrotic 10 AV
Tombforged Armor +6 29 Armor: Chain necrotic 15 PHB
Crystalline Breastplate +6 30 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
necrotic 15 AV2
Deathcut Armor +6 30 Armor: Leather, Hide necrotic 5 PHB
Spiritlink Armor +6 30 Armor: Chain necrotic 15 AV
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any poison 15 AV
Amulet of Health +5 23 Neck poison 15 PHB
Cloak of Arachnida +5 23 Neck poison 15 AV
Snakefang Armor +5 23 Armor: Leather, Hide poison 10 AV2
Snaketongue Robe +5 23 Armor: Cloth poison 5 AV2
Spiderweb Robes +5 23 Armor: Cloth poison 15 AV2
Bonegrim Armor +5 24 Armor: Plate poison 15 AV
Dragonscale Armor, Green +5 24 Armor: scale poison 15 AV
Keicha’s Amulet +5 24 Neck poison 15 AV2
Periapt of Proof against Poison +5 24 Neck poison 20 AV2
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion poison 15 AV
Serpentine Armor +5 24 Armor: Scale poison 15 AV2
Amulet of Aranea +5 25 Neck poison 15 AV
Brimstone Cloak +5 25 Neck poison 15 MotP
Deathcut Armor +5 25 Armor: Leather, Hide poison 5 PHB
Deathspawn Potion   25 Potion poison 15 AV
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang poison 30 DM378
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any poison 15 AV
Amulet of Health +6 28 Neck poison 15 PHB
Cloak of Arachnida +6 28 Neck poison 15 AV
Snakefang Armor +6 28 Armor: Leather, Hide poison 15 AV2
Snaketongue Robe +6 28 Armor: Cloth poison 5 AV2
Spiderweb Robes +6 28 Armor: Cloth poison 15 AV2
Bonegrim Armor +6 29 Armor: Plate poison 10 AV
Dragonscale Armor, Green +6 29 Armor: scale poison 20 AV
Keicha’s Amulet +6 29 Neck poison 15 AV2
Periapt of Proof against Poison +6 29 Neck poison 20 AV2
Serpentine Armor +6 29 Armor: Scale poison 15 AV2
Amulet of Aranea +6 30 Neck poison 15 AV
Brimstone Cloak +6 30 Neck poison 15 MotP
Bronze Serpent   30 Head poison 15 AV
Deathcut Armor +6 30 Armor: Leather, Hide poison 5 PHB
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any psychic 15 AV
Driftmetal Armor +5 23 Armor: Chain, Scale psychic 10 MotP
Mind Armor +5 23 Armor: Scale, plate psychic 15 AV2
Nightmare Ward Armor +5 23 Armor: Leather, Hide psychic 15 AV2
Scintillating Armor +5 23 Armor: Cloth psychic 20 MotP
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion psychic 15 AV
Soulwarding Armor +5 24 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
psychic 10 AV
Bralani Cloak +5 25 Neck psychic 15 AV2
Illithid Robes +5 25 Armor: Cloth psychic 15 AV
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang psychic 30 DM378
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any psychic 15 AV
Driftmetal Armor +6 28 Armor: Chain, Scale psychic 10 MotP
Greenstone Amulet +6 28 Neck psychic 15 MotP
Nightmare Ward Armor +6 28 Armor: Leather, Hide psychic 15 AV2
Scintillating Armor +6 28 Armor: Cloth psychic 20 MotP
Soulwarding Armor +6 29 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
psychic 10 AV
Bralani Cloak +6 30 Neck psychic 20 AV2
Illithid Robes +6 30 Armor: Cloth psychic 15 AV
Driftmetal Armor +5 23 Armor: Chain, Scale radiant 10 MotP
Scintillating Armor +5 23 Armor: Cloth radiant 20 MotP
Whiteflame Armor +5 23 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
radiant 15 AV
Pelaurum Armor +5 24 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
radiant 15 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +5 25 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
radiant 15 AV2
Spiritlink Armor +5 25 Armor: Chain radiant 10 AV
Driftmetal Armor +6 28 Armor: Chain, Scale radiant 10 MotP
Scintillating Armor +6 28 Armor: Cloth radiant 20 MotP
Whiteflame Armor +6 28 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
radiant 15 AV
Pelaurum Armor +6 29 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
radiant 15 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +6 30 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
radiant 15 AV2
Spiritlink Armor +6 30 Armor: Chain radiant 15 AV
Armor of Resistance +5 22 Armor: Any thunder 15 AV
Demonskin Tattoo   23 Wondrous Item thunder 15 AV2
Symbol of the Dragon +5 23 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
thunder 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +5 24 Armor: Any thunder 20 AV
Demon Amulet +5 24 Neck thunder 10 AV2
Potion of Resistance   24 Potion thunder 15 AV
Robe of Defying Storms +5 24 Armor: Cloth thunder 15 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +5 25 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
thunder 15 AV2
Soulfang of Resistance   25 Soulfang thunder 30 DM378
Stormlord Armor +5 25 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
thunder 15 AV
Stormwalker’s Cloak +5 25 Neck thunder 15 PHB
Armor of Resistance +6 27 Armor: Any thunder 15 AV
Potion of Stormshield   28 Potion thunder 35 AV
Storm Shield   28 Arms thunder 15 AV
Symbol of the Dragon +6 28 Implement
(Holy Symbol)
thunder 10 DM365
Chaos Weave Armor +6 29 Armor: Any thunder 20 AV
Demon Amulet +6 29 Neck thunder 10 AV2
Robe of Defying Storms +6 29 Armor: Cloth thunder 15 AV
Crystalline Breastplate +6 30 Armor: Leather,
Hide, Chain,
Scale, Plate
thunder 15 AV2
Stormlord Armor +6 30 Armor: Chain,
Scale, Plate
thunder 15 AV
Stormwalker’s Cloak +6 30 Neck thunder 15 PHB

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